TREATY OF CORDOVA. 



247 



conciling the interests of Old and New Spain, he 

 invited the First Chief of the imperial army, Don 

 Augustin de Iturbide, to an interview, in order to 

 discuss the great question of independence, dis- 

 entangling without destroying the bonds which 

 had connected the two Continents. This inter- 

 view took place in the town of Cordova, on the 

 24th of August 1821, and the former under the 

 character with which he came invested, and the 

 latter as representing the Mexican empire, having 

 conferred at large upon the interests of each na- 

 tion, looking to their actual condition, and to re- 

 cent occurrences, agreed to the following Articles, 

 which they signed in duplicate, for their better 

 preservation, each party keeping an original for 

 greater security and validity, 



1st, This kingdom of America shall be re- 

 cognized as a sovereign and independent nation; 

 and shall, in future^ be called the Mexican Em- 

 pire. 



" 2d, The government of the empire shall be 

 monarchical, limited by a constitution. 



^' 3d, Ferdinand VII., Catholic King of Spain, 

 shall, in the first place, be called to the throne of 



